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Detective Carrie Flynn #1
The Night Caller
Detective Carrie Flynn has spent twenty years searching for her little sister, who was kidnapped and never found. The worst part for Carrie is that she was with Hattie on that hot summer day. Carrie saw her sister’s abductor, but she was just a little girl herself, and remembers nothing. She will never forgive herself for letting Hattie down.
When the chance came to join the police force, Carrie didn’t hesitate. She would solve missing person cases and fight for justice – no more families stuck in limbo, no more grieving mothers, no more sisters growing up alone... But now a serial killer is stalking Carrie’s hometown of Manchester: late at night, people are going missing down at the canal. Six years, a dozen disappearances.
When another victim is taken, Carrie is sure the family is hiding something and she’s determined to find out the secret behind their silence. Why does the mother not want to answer Carrie’s questions? Who is the mysterious girl next door? Carrie knows that to track down the killer, she must find out everything she possibly can about the innocents they have chosen to hunt.
Carrie holds on to one fact: last year, standing by the water, she caught a glimpse of the killer, and the distinctive tattoo on his arm. He slipped through her fingers, but she won’t let it happen again. She’ll never stop searching, for the grieving families, for her belief in justice, and her hope that, one day, something she finds will lead her back to her lost little sister.
Can she finally solve the case that has cast a long shadow over her career and will the demons in her own past help her to catch this deadly killer?
If you love Val McDermid, Robert Dugoni or Angela Marsons you won’t be able to put down this dark and twisty thriller. J.M. Hewitt will keep you guessing until the very last page.
When the chance came to join the police force, Carrie didn’t hesitate. She would solve missing person cases and fight for justice – no more families stuck in limbo, no more grieving mothers, no more sisters growing up alone... But now a serial killer is stalking Carrie’s hometown of Manchester: late at night, people are going missing down at the canal. Six years, a dozen disappearances.
When another victim is taken, Carrie is sure the family is hiding something and she’s determined to find out the secret behind their silence. Why does the mother not want to answer Carrie’s questions? Who is the mysterious girl next door? Carrie knows that to track down the killer, she must find out everything she possibly can about the innocents they have chosen to hunt.
Carrie holds on to one fact: last year, standing by the water, she caught a glimpse of the killer, and the distinctive tattoo on his arm. He slipped through her fingers, but she won’t let it happen again. She’ll never stop searching, for the grieving families, for her belief in justice, and her hope that, one day, something she finds will lead her back to her lost little sister.
Can she finally solve the case that has cast a long shadow over her career and will the demons in her own past help her to catch this deadly killer?
If you love Val McDermid, Robert Dugoni or Angela Marsons you won’t be able to put down this dark and twisty thriller. J.M. Hewitt will keep you guessing until the very last page.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2019
115 people are currently reading
484 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Hewitt
18 books130 followersSilver Prize in the author v author competition 2008 (supported by the National Literary Trust)
Shortlisted for the Inspire and Mentor Campaign – selected by Jojo Moyes 2012
Two books independently published in 2010 and 2013
Longlisted for the Retreat West First Chapter Competition 2015
Winner of the BritCrime Pitch Competition 2015
Winner in the Twisted 50 Short Story Competition 2016. Short story 'Fingers' to be published in the Twisted 50 Anthology.
Appearing at the Felixstowe Book Festival in 2015 and 2016 and the East Anglia Author Festival 2016.
Member of the CWA, ITW and East Anglian Authors.
Exclusion Zone and The Hunger Within published 2016 / 2017 by Endeavour Media.
The Night Caller published by Bookouture 2019.
www.jmhewitt.com Twitter: @jmhewitt FB: www.facebook.com/j.mhewittauthor
Shortlisted for the Inspire and Mentor Campaign – selected by Jojo Moyes 2012
Two books independently published in 2010 and 2013
Longlisted for the Retreat West First Chapter Competition 2015
Winner of the BritCrime Pitch Competition 2015
Winner in the Twisted 50 Short Story Competition 2016. Short story 'Fingers' to be published in the Twisted 50 Anthology.
Appearing at the Felixstowe Book Festival in 2015 and 2016 and the East Anglia Author Festival 2016.
Member of the CWA, ITW and East Anglian Authors.
Exclusion Zone and The Hunger Within published 2016 / 2017 by Endeavour Media.
The Night Caller published by Bookouture 2019.
www.jmhewitt.com Twitter: @jmhewitt FB: www.facebook.com/j.mhewittauthor
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August 15, 2019
Detective Carrie Flynn #1
There's a serial killer in Manchester who is pushing unwitting males into the canal. So far, there have been twelve deaths over the last six years. DS Carrie Flynn and DC Paul Harper are now investigating. Then Emma's son, Jordan goes missing. Is he the latest victim? Carrie has personal demons.
This story was not what I expected it to be. I thought it was going to be based around the serial killer but it was more about Emma and her next door neighbour, Jade. Both women are hiding secrets. There is not a lot that we learn about the detectives that are investigating this case. That said, I was still hooked even though I did work out where the story was going. This never spoils a story for me. There are plenty twists and turns to keep you guessing. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author J.M. Hewitt for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There's a serial killer in Manchester who is pushing unwitting males into the canal. So far, there have been twelve deaths over the last six years. DS Carrie Flynn and DC Paul Harper are now investigating. Then Emma's son, Jordan goes missing. Is he the latest victim? Carrie has personal demons.
This story was not what I expected it to be. I thought it was going to be based around the serial killer but it was more about Emma and her next door neighbour, Jade. Both women are hiding secrets. There is not a lot that we learn about the detectives that are investigating this case. That said, I was still hooked even though I did work out where the story was going. This never spoils a story for me. There are plenty twists and turns to keep you guessing. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author J.M. Hewitt for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2019
The Night Caller by J.M. Hewitt is the first in the Detective Carrie Flynn series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background:
DS Carrie Flynn lost her sister when she was a child. Hattie was abducted, and never found. Their mother has spent the last two decades in a nursing home, not speaking, not really there. Carrie spent that time in foster care. She has become a very independent woman, who doesn't really let people in. She needs to be in control at all times, so stays away from booze and drugs. She is partnered with DC Paul Harper.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Emma Robinson goes a little crazy when her 19-year old son Jordan goes missing, presumed drowned in the canal. His body has not yet been found. Some think he jumped. Some think he was pushed. Maybe he is still alive. Maybe his father, never in the picture, had something to do with it. Emma will do whatever she can to find her son.
Jade and her 4 year old daughter Nia live next door to Emma, but are more family than neighbours, so Jade is trying to do everything she can to support her friend.
There have been a dozen canal deaths over 6 years attributed to "The Pusher". DS Carrie Flynn thinks the "new" pusher killed Jordan. She is sure that a second pusher materialized a little while ago, after he/she killed the first one. Carrie has no proof, but the victims changed. The victims of the first pusher were all gays. The victims now are drug dealers, pimps, abusers, and others with questionable behaviours....people that may deserve punishment. However, if Jordan was pushed, what was he hiding...why did he need to be punished? And why does it seem that he has no friends, and his family seems not to know him at all? What are they hiding?
My Opinions:
This book is about secrets, and denial, and family and love. It is also about mental health and control.
I did figure out who the killer was, and anticipated the ending, but it was still done well.
The writing is good, the plot was interesting, and most of the characters were good (I actually loved Mrs. Oberman). However, my problem was with the protagonist. The author did not give us enough background information to make Carrie likable. She was rather boring. I learned more about her from the book blurb, than I did from the book. The book actually centered more around the family in crisis than it did around Carrie, or police procedures, which is fine, but it just seemed odd for such a series.
This book was okay, and only the first in the series, so I am looking forward to seeing if the author will step up her game. I hope so. There was nothing wrong with the book, it just lacked the thrill, for me anyway.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
August 15, 2019
3.5 rating upgraded to 4.0 because of the unpredictable ending
He's known as The Pusher. He's taken a dozen victims over the course of six years. He's left nary a clue, no DNA, he's like a ghost, a whisper in the wind.
Detective Carrie Flynn has not given up looking for this killer. But something has changed. The victims lifestyles were targeted for awhile, now it looks like anyone who was considered a 'bad boy' are being killed.
There's another missing person .. a 19-year-old teenager. He was seen around the river and people heard a splash ... but his body has never been found.
His mother is in denial that her only son is dead. Detective Flynn feels that the mother is hiding something. The same for her neighbor, a young woman who the mother is very close to. She, also, seems to not tell everything she knows.
Throw in the boy's father, whom he's never met, and another young man, who claims to have been in a relationship with him, and a nosy old neighbor woman, who sees more than she tells and you have the makings of a real page turner.
This was a little bit of a slow start for me. The story line had me believing this was more about the family of the man who disappeared, and less about the crimes committed. Once it picked up, the suspense soared.
Many thanks to the author /Bookouture / Netgalley. I received a digital copy of this crime fiction at no charge, I am leaving this review voluntarily. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
He's known as The Pusher. He's taken a dozen victims over the course of six years. He's left nary a clue, no DNA, he's like a ghost, a whisper in the wind.
Detective Carrie Flynn has not given up looking for this killer. But something has changed. The victims lifestyles were targeted for awhile, now it looks like anyone who was considered a 'bad boy' are being killed.
There's another missing person .. a 19-year-old teenager. He was seen around the river and people heard a splash ... but his body has never been found.
His mother is in denial that her only son is dead. Detective Flynn feels that the mother is hiding something. The same for her neighbor, a young woman who the mother is very close to. She, also, seems to not tell everything she knows.
Throw in the boy's father, whom he's never met, and another young man, who claims to have been in a relationship with him, and a nosy old neighbor woman, who sees more than she tells and you have the makings of a real page turner.
This was a little bit of a slow start for me. The story line had me believing this was more about the family of the man who disappeared, and less about the crimes committed. Once it picked up, the suspense soared.
Many thanks to the author /Bookouture / Netgalley. I received a digital copy of this crime fiction at no charge, I am leaving this review voluntarily. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
August 10, 2019
Although identified as a crime thriller, this is so much more than that. This narrative speaks of bonds, whether familial or otherwise, and the connections between people that allow for secrets even kept from ourselves.
What it's about: There is a serial killer afoot in Manchester. He (or she) pushes unwitting males into the canal. There have been 12 such deaths over the last six years. DS Carrie Flynn and her partner, DC Paul Harper, have the notion that the original "Pusher" has been replaced by a new killer as the victimology has changed. They are getting nowhere when Emma's son, Jordan, goes missing. Although he appears to be another victim of "the Pusher", his body is not recovered. His mother, Emma, and her best friend and next door neighbor, Jade, walk the canals and are desperate to find his body. But the two women are holding some very close secrets and the police cannot penetrate their silence nor find any clues to solve the crime. Bit by bit the revelations come and it is obvious that no one really knew Jordan at all. NO SPOILERS
Why you should read it: This is a most unusual police procedural as the titular main character of DS Carrie Flynn does not have the most major role in the book. Emma and Jade are the focus of the story and their relationship with Jordan propels the plot. I am not sure who Carrie is really or what she's about but I understand that something bad happened to her that has affected her life. I'd definitely like to have future books in this series focus more on her and less on other characters as she's an enigma and virtually unknown at this point. Although the narrative meanders and the clues are dropped at specific points, I knew where this was going long before the big reveal. That wasn't a problem for me in that I enjoy seeing how the author reaches the conclusion. All in all, though, I found this to be a very sad story and I felt quite a bit of empathy for their loss in that mothers tend to see the best in their children while ignoring the serious red flags. "Take the blinders off!" I yelled to no avail. I'm wondering where this series will go next and definitely want to read the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
Note: Despite the synopsis given, there is really NOTHING in this book about the disappearance of Carrie's sister or anything from her past.
What it's about: There is a serial killer afoot in Manchester. He (or she) pushes unwitting males into the canal. There have been 12 such deaths over the last six years. DS Carrie Flynn and her partner, DC Paul Harper, have the notion that the original "Pusher" has been replaced by a new killer as the victimology has changed. They are getting nowhere when Emma's son, Jordan, goes missing. Although he appears to be another victim of "the Pusher", his body is not recovered. His mother, Emma, and her best friend and next door neighbor, Jade, walk the canals and are desperate to find his body. But the two women are holding some very close secrets and the police cannot penetrate their silence nor find any clues to solve the crime. Bit by bit the revelations come and it is obvious that no one really knew Jordan at all. NO SPOILERS
Why you should read it: This is a most unusual police procedural as the titular main character of DS Carrie Flynn does not have the most major role in the book. Emma and Jade are the focus of the story and their relationship with Jordan propels the plot. I am not sure who Carrie is really or what she's about but I understand that something bad happened to her that has affected her life. I'd definitely like to have future books in this series focus more on her and less on other characters as she's an enigma and virtually unknown at this point. Although the narrative meanders and the clues are dropped at specific points, I knew where this was going long before the big reveal. That wasn't a problem for me in that I enjoy seeing how the author reaches the conclusion. All in all, though, I found this to be a very sad story and I felt quite a bit of empathy for their loss in that mothers tend to see the best in their children while ignoring the serious red flags. "Take the blinders off!" I yelled to no avail. I'm wondering where this series will go next and definitely want to read the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
Note: Despite the synopsis given, there is really NOTHING in this book about the disappearance of Carrie's sister or anything from her past.
February 17, 2020
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read of The Night Caller in exchange for an honest review!
The book has a good premise: A detective sergeant with her own troubled past has to solve the case of a serial killer in Manchester. He or she pushes people into the canals, and has hit about 12 victims over the course of a few years.
So....I think my main issue is with Carrie Flynn herself. IF she is supposed to be the main character in the series, I would have needed a lot more background to connect with her. What happened, what course her life took, and what happened to her mother and sister. Carrie didn't even do a lot of detective work other than to stir the pot among the victim's family, and they didn't help her out a whole lot. She came up with one piece of intuitive evidence about there being two pushers, but she really didn't do …. well... anything to solve the case.
There was some psychology involved to make it a psychological thriller, but it wasn't explored so much as just mentioned. The twist, also, was made REALLY obvious during the story which is rare because usually I can't see it coming. I think it was revealed on purpose about midway through the book. The rest of the book seemed like a lot of feather ruffling between the neighboring women.
There were also a lot of questions and possible plot points that seemed really interesting, but then the author never followed up on it. Why would The Pusher state that he was addicted to seeing the aftermath of his crimes, then only mention it the one time? I would have like to hear more of that view point. Some of the transitions seemed weird too, Also Martin was a huge loose end, a lot more could have been done with that whole situation and his personality and his … mood swings and whatnot.
My favorite character was a cranky old nurse who played a minimal but feel good role towards the end.
I just wasn't feeling this one. I would like to read the next one though so that's something. I might recommend for fans of dark fiction and mysteries more than thrillers
The book has a good premise: A detective sergeant with her own troubled past has to solve the case of a serial killer in Manchester. He or she pushes people into the canals, and has hit about 12 victims over the course of a few years.
So....I think my main issue is with Carrie Flynn herself. IF she is supposed to be the main character in the series, I would have needed a lot more background to connect with her. What happened, what course her life took, and what happened to her mother and sister. Carrie didn't even do a lot of detective work other than to stir the pot among the victim's family, and they didn't help her out a whole lot. She came up with one piece of intuitive evidence about there being two pushers, but she really didn't do …. well... anything to solve the case.
There was some psychology involved to make it a psychological thriller, but it wasn't explored so much as just mentioned. The twist, also, was made REALLY obvious during the story which is rare because usually I can't see it coming. I think it was revealed on purpose about midway through the book. The rest of the book seemed like a lot of feather ruffling between the neighboring women.
There were also a lot of questions and possible plot points that seemed really interesting, but then the author never followed up on it. Why would The Pusher state that he was addicted to seeing the aftermath of his crimes, then only mention it the one time? I would have like to hear more of that view point. Some of the transitions seemed weird too, Also Martin was a huge loose end, a lot more could have been done with that whole situation and his personality and his … mood swings and whatnot.
My favorite character was a cranky old nurse who played a minimal but feel good role towards the end.
I just wasn't feeling this one. I would like to read the next one though so that's something. I might recommend for fans of dark fiction and mysteries more than thrillers
August 23, 2019
Detective Carrie Flynn has tracked the Pusher for six years— a serial killer who tosses immobilized victims into Manchester’s canals. Careful and inconspicuous, the Pusher has always avoided attention until Carrie catches sight of him near the water while investigating another drowning. All she can make out is a unique tattoo on his arm, but it might be enough. However, after yet another death, she slips into a tangled web of lies and secrets all centered on a victim with a hidden life that might crack the case wide open.
Some books move slowly, chugging along strong and steady. Others open with a bang and remain unrelenting. In her first book in a new series, author J.M. Hewitt expertly combines the best of both worlds. She lets the tension simmer, gradually building and layering the beginning before delivering a pulse-pounding second half.
Part of this success stems from Hewitt’s ability to blend police procedural with family drama. Carrie is such a compelling detective, focused on solving cases as self-imposed penance for her younger sister’s abduction when the two were children. Guarded yet unwavering, her forced determination to unmask the Pusher is palpable on the page.
But the case ensnares Emma, whose son, Jordan, is allegedly the most recent victim to drop into the canal. Heartbroken, she struggles accepting this news— which is further complicated as she discovers a mother doesn’t always know her child. Hewitt places a lot of focus on this relationship and Emma’s gradual exploration of the case, and it works. It’s quickly apparent that everyone around Emma, from Jordan to her best friend and neighbor, Jade, have secrets. But do they relate to the murders? Hewitt teases, slowly dropping hints and clues before everything crashes together in an utterly explosive ending.
Packed with plenty of twists and an absorbing collective of characters, The Night Caller is a solid start to a new series.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
Some books move slowly, chugging along strong and steady. Others open with a bang and remain unrelenting. In her first book in a new series, author J.M. Hewitt expertly combines the best of both worlds. She lets the tension simmer, gradually building and layering the beginning before delivering a pulse-pounding second half.
Part of this success stems from Hewitt’s ability to blend police procedural with family drama. Carrie is such a compelling detective, focused on solving cases as self-imposed penance for her younger sister’s abduction when the two were children. Guarded yet unwavering, her forced determination to unmask the Pusher is palpable on the page.
But the case ensnares Emma, whose son, Jordan, is allegedly the most recent victim to drop into the canal. Heartbroken, she struggles accepting this news— which is further complicated as she discovers a mother doesn’t always know her child. Hewitt places a lot of focus on this relationship and Emma’s gradual exploration of the case, and it works. It’s quickly apparent that everyone around Emma, from Jordan to her best friend and neighbor, Jade, have secrets. But do they relate to the murders? Hewitt teases, slowly dropping hints and clues before everything crashes together in an utterly explosive ending.
Packed with plenty of twists and an absorbing collective of characters, The Night Caller is a solid start to a new series.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
September 1, 2019
The Night Caller, book one of J. M. Hewitt’s Detective Carrie Flynn Crime Thriller series, is a great psychological thriller.
Detective Carrie Flynn is haunted by memories of the younger sister who was kidnapped when they were children and was never seen again. She’s doubly troubled because she saw the kidnapper. Now she’s chasing a serial killer being called the Pusher, because he’s murdering men by pushing them into the canals around Manchester. The killings have been happening for six years, but the higher ups in the police ranks don’t want to admit they have a serial killer on their hands. Carrie has her own theories but won’t share them for fear that she’ll be ridiculed.
The latest victim of the Pusher is Jordan Robinson. Detective Flynn and her partner Detective Paul Harper interview Jordan’s mother, Emma, and their neighbor Jade, but neither one is able to give any clues as to why Jordan might be a target of the killer. Something is off with this victim and Carrie thinks his secrets hold the clue to solving the entire case.
J. M. Hewitt has done a great job with this thriller. The canals surrounding Manchester are suitably eerie and create the isolated, lonely atmosphere needed for the solitary murders and Emma’s solo wanderings. The characters were given adequate backstories. The plot was predictable in part, but there were still some good unexpected twists. Overall, I enjoyed The Night Caller and rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Detective Carrie Flynn is haunted by memories of the younger sister who was kidnapped when they were children and was never seen again. She’s doubly troubled because she saw the kidnapper. Now she’s chasing a serial killer being called the Pusher, because he’s murdering men by pushing them into the canals around Manchester. The killings have been happening for six years, but the higher ups in the police ranks don’t want to admit they have a serial killer on their hands. Carrie has her own theories but won’t share them for fear that she’ll be ridiculed.
The latest victim of the Pusher is Jordan Robinson. Detective Flynn and her partner Detective Paul Harper interview Jordan’s mother, Emma, and their neighbor Jade, but neither one is able to give any clues as to why Jordan might be a target of the killer. Something is off with this victim and Carrie thinks his secrets hold the clue to solving the entire case.
J. M. Hewitt has done a great job with this thriller. The canals surrounding Manchester are suitably eerie and create the isolated, lonely atmosphere needed for the solitary murders and Emma’s solo wanderings. The characters were given adequate backstories. The plot was predictable in part, but there were still some good unexpected twists. Overall, I enjoyed The Night Caller and rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
June 22, 2025
I liked the idea of that story but I ended up feeling rather confused. I felt there was a lot of switching between characters, going to and fro past to present. It felt disjointed somehow.
Overall an okay read, maybe just not quite for me with its execution.
Overall an okay read, maybe just not quite for me with its execution.
August 16, 2019
A police procedural to begin with, the story soon led me down the twists of a thriller. The first in the series where Detective Carrie Flynn was at the helm of the investigation.
The Pusher, a killer who pushed his victims into the canal, was plaguing the land, and it was up to Carrie to find him before the body count rose up. This case started with finding Jordan's scarf near the canal, and the Pusher was thought to be at play.
A debut by J. M. Hewitt where after the initial few pages, I got mighty engrossed in the story that kept unfolding in each chapter, to reveal the furtive nature of the characters. The book read extremely fast, 2 hours hands down.
I thought I would be getting a solid investigative story with forensics and cop talk. But what I got was an implosion of a thriller which sucked me in. Wow. The author soon turned the story around, weaving the scenes of the investigation into the lives of Emma and son Jordan, who was missing, neighbor Jade and daughter Nia.
All these characters were hiding deep, dark secrets. And it was upto Carrie and her partner Paul to get to them. I could understand why she got frustrated with them. I too had to read at double speed to force them to tell their secrets. Some I could guess. As told before, my thrillers have made me a good Detective. Still waiting for my badge.
A tiny niggle popped up. Carrie and her backstory were not shown in detail which probably would be shown later in the series as there was a lost sister in her past. The blurb was slightly misleading. This was more of a thriller, hence my excitement was doubled.
A fast paced thriller more than a police procedural which had my heart thumping with joy.
The Pusher, a killer who pushed his victims into the canal, was plaguing the land, and it was up to Carrie to find him before the body count rose up. This case started with finding Jordan's scarf near the canal, and the Pusher was thought to be at play.
A debut by J. M. Hewitt where after the initial few pages, I got mighty engrossed in the story that kept unfolding in each chapter, to reveal the furtive nature of the characters. The book read extremely fast, 2 hours hands down.
I thought I would be getting a solid investigative story with forensics and cop talk. But what I got was an implosion of a thriller which sucked me in. Wow. The author soon turned the story around, weaving the scenes of the investigation into the lives of Emma and son Jordan, who was missing, neighbor Jade and daughter Nia.
All these characters were hiding deep, dark secrets. And it was upto Carrie and her partner Paul to get to them. I could understand why she got frustrated with them. I too had to read at double speed to force them to tell their secrets. Some I could guess. As told before, my thrillers have made me a good Detective. Still waiting for my badge.
A tiny niggle popped up. Carrie and her backstory were not shown in detail which probably would be shown later in the series as there was a lost sister in her past. The blurb was slightly misleading. This was more of a thriller, hence my excitement was doubled.
A fast paced thriller more than a police procedural which had my heart thumping with joy.
December 2, 2019
Crime thriller set in around THE SALFORD QUAYS and MANCHESTER
The author is very skilled at creating a dark, ominous setting. Much of the book is set along the canal network, around Media City and the Lowry Centre, which can be buzzing with people and atmosphere. On some days or nights, however, as she says at the back of the book, the fog can hang low over the water when there isn’t a soul in sight and it can certainly give off a very different vibe.
This is the first in the Detective Carrie Flynn series and Carrie, with her fellow officer Paul, is investigating the possibility that a serial killer is on the loose, dubbed The Pusher. He pushes people into the canals and in fact over 6 years there have been 12 murders. Yet she is not convinced this is the work of one, single person.
Emma and Jade live adjacent to each other, both single mums. Jade has young daughter Nia and Emma has a grown son, Jordan. One evening on the TV Emma spots a report about another ‘push’ and to her horror identifies her son’s scarf in the footage. That can surely only mean one thing….
As the narrative develops there are secrets galore and Jordan certainly seems to be quite a different person from the one his mum knows. Martin, his absent dad, appears on the doorstep. Could he have something to do with Jordan’s disappearance? Jade is harbouring an unlikely secret and quite how the two women’s friendship has survived over the years, is a miracle.
This had me smiling….some of the characters in the novel refer to the cops as Rozzers, which was the epithet for cops back in, what, the 1980s (it took me right back), so it was refreshing to see the term once again in vogue in this novel, set firmly in the 21st century.
An easy to read novel and good for setting.
The author is very skilled at creating a dark, ominous setting. Much of the book is set along the canal network, around Media City and the Lowry Centre, which can be buzzing with people and atmosphere. On some days or nights, however, as she says at the back of the book, the fog can hang low over the water when there isn’t a soul in sight and it can certainly give off a very different vibe.
This is the first in the Detective Carrie Flynn series and Carrie, with her fellow officer Paul, is investigating the possibility that a serial killer is on the loose, dubbed The Pusher. He pushes people into the canals and in fact over 6 years there have been 12 murders. Yet she is not convinced this is the work of one, single person.
Emma and Jade live adjacent to each other, both single mums. Jade has young daughter Nia and Emma has a grown son, Jordan. One evening on the TV Emma spots a report about another ‘push’ and to her horror identifies her son’s scarf in the footage. That can surely only mean one thing….
As the narrative develops there are secrets galore and Jordan certainly seems to be quite a different person from the one his mum knows. Martin, his absent dad, appears on the doorstep. Could he have something to do with Jordan’s disappearance? Jade is harbouring an unlikely secret and quite how the two women’s friendship has survived over the years, is a miracle.
This had me smiling….some of the characters in the novel refer to the cops as Rozzers, which was the epithet for cops back in, what, the 1980s (it took me right back), so it was refreshing to see the term once again in vogue in this novel, set firmly in the 21st century.
An easy to read novel and good for setting.
August 15, 2019
If you like twisted minds and police procedurals, then this is a book for you because it has both elements.
But of course there is more. Hidden secrets, a mother’s heartbroken story, a killer doing what he wants without leaving a trace, a murder that fits the pattern but not quite.
Normally when a new series starts, we get some background information about the main charcter. Here the author keeps everything very hidden and makes us long for more. I guess she reserves these juicy bits for the next parts, which keeps me wanting to read them as soon as possible.
The focus in this book is more on the murder case than on the investigation which makes us curious about the team surrounding the DS.
I really liked the way the author created Jordan. He wants to help but his methods might be a bit strange. 😉
A mother knows her child best, right …?
Did I guess who the culprit was? Yes, this time I was smarter than the police, but I did not mind. The book is full of strange characters and this combined with the revelations made the story a very interesting one. 4 stars.
Thank you, J.M. Hewitt and Bookouture (via Netgalley)
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
But of course there is more. Hidden secrets, a mother’s heartbroken story, a killer doing what he wants without leaving a trace, a murder that fits the pattern but not quite.
Normally when a new series starts, we get some background information about the main charcter. Here the author keeps everything very hidden and makes us long for more. I guess she reserves these juicy bits for the next parts, which keeps me wanting to read them as soon as possible.
The focus in this book is more on the murder case than on the investigation which makes us curious about the team surrounding the DS.
I really liked the way the author created Jordan. He wants to help but his methods might be a bit strange. 😉
A mother knows her child best, right …?
Did I guess who the culprit was? Yes, this time I was smarter than the police, but I did not mind. The book is full of strange characters and this combined with the revelations made the story a very interesting one. 4 stars.
Thank you, J.M. Hewitt and Bookouture (via Netgalley)
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
August 17, 2019
I received a free copy of The Night Caller from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! It's so much more than a detective crime thriller.
This story is about relationships. It's about hidden feelings and desires. It's about overcoming frustrations, dark and negative thoughts.
You know those hidden feelings and emotions that we all have? Those secret and deep thoughts? Thoughts and feelings that may be taboo, shameful, outrageous? This story is about all those feeling.
This book wakes you up and makes you realise that people are all the same, yet unique in their way of thinking and feelings.
It is such a wonderful start to an amazing series.
I will happily recommend this book!
I absolutely loved this book! It's so much more than a detective crime thriller.
This story is about relationships. It's about hidden feelings and desires. It's about overcoming frustrations, dark and negative thoughts.
You know those hidden feelings and emotions that we all have? Those secret and deep thoughts? Thoughts and feelings that may be taboo, shameful, outrageous? This story is about all those feeling.
This book wakes you up and makes you realise that people are all the same, yet unique in their way of thinking and feelings.
It is such a wonderful start to an amazing series.
I will happily recommend this book!
August 29, 2019
I thought that this was an good start to a new police procedural
I liked the family back story and it kept my interest piqued.
Thought that The Pusher was name that could have been more exciting, knowing how the press sensationalise these murderers in real life.
I would look out for the next one in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley, JM Hewitt and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I liked the family back story and it kept my interest piqued.
Thought that The Pusher was name that could have been more exciting, knowing how the press sensationalise these murderers in real life.
I would look out for the next one in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley, JM Hewitt and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 17, 2019
I have just finished this book, and my body is still very tense -I wonder how long that tension will stay there? This was certainly a psychological thriller and my heart was in my mouth, more than once.
Emma's son Jordan goes missing - but Jordan is an enigma and it is up to Carrie and Paul to figure out what the story is with him and who is responsible for the murders of a dozen people, all pushed into the canals of Manchester.
Now, I have never been to Manchester, but I can imagine when it is dark and cold, that the canals might be a very different place than when it is sunny and there are lots of people around. Just the thought of landing in a canal, fully clothed, in the middle of winter and without a way to get out of it, fills me with horror.
The author did a good job of layering on the tension. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and finding out a little more about Carrie's past and what exactly happened with her sister and her mother.
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
Emma's son Jordan goes missing - but Jordan is an enigma and it is up to Carrie and Paul to figure out what the story is with him and who is responsible for the murders of a dozen people, all pushed into the canals of Manchester.
Now, I have never been to Manchester, but I can imagine when it is dark and cold, that the canals might be a very different place than when it is sunny and there are lots of people around. Just the thought of landing in a canal, fully clothed, in the middle of winter and without a way to get out of it, fills me with horror.
The author did a good job of layering on the tension. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and finding out a little more about Carrie's past and what exactly happened with her sister and her mother.
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
July 19, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Night Caller, the first novel to feature DS Carrie Flynn of the Manchester police.
There is a serial killer in Manchester and DS Carrie Flynn is on the case. Known as The Pusher for his M.O. of pushing his victims into the canal Carrie caught a glimpse of him and his distinctive tattoo the previous summer so when Jordan Robinson’s scarf is found by the canal and a splash is heard he is assumed to be the latest victim. This death spurs Carrie on but she gets little help from his family who are keeping secrets.
The Night Caller is not the police procedural I thought I was going to get, instead it concentrates on Emma, the grieving mother, and her next door neighbour and best friend, Jade, both of whom are hiding big secrets. In fact there is very little investigation and the plot is easy to guess so that leaves the secrets and while some are surprising the big one isn’t.
I mostly don’t like psychological thrillers as I find the different viewpoints and all the switching of perspective distracting and counterproductive in that it doesn’t bring me closer to the characters or get me invested in their fates. In this case I didn’t find the characters appealing or find any way of understanding their motives.
I’m not even sure if I understand why the novel is billed as a DS Carrie Flynn thriller as, in many ways, she is a peripheral figure, acting more as a catalyst to further exploration of Emma and Jade than the main protagonist. I think I learned more about her backstory from the blurb than from the novel where it is made obvious that it will be explored in future outings.
The Night Caller is not the kind of novel that I like to read but it is well done and I think that many readers will enjoy it.
There is a serial killer in Manchester and DS Carrie Flynn is on the case. Known as The Pusher for his M.O. of pushing his victims into the canal Carrie caught a glimpse of him and his distinctive tattoo the previous summer so when Jordan Robinson’s scarf is found by the canal and a splash is heard he is assumed to be the latest victim. This death spurs Carrie on but she gets little help from his family who are keeping secrets.
The Night Caller is not the police procedural I thought I was going to get, instead it concentrates on Emma, the grieving mother, and her next door neighbour and best friend, Jade, both of whom are hiding big secrets. In fact there is very little investigation and the plot is easy to guess so that leaves the secrets and while some are surprising the big one isn’t.
I mostly don’t like psychological thrillers as I find the different viewpoints and all the switching of perspective distracting and counterproductive in that it doesn’t bring me closer to the characters or get me invested in their fates. In this case I didn’t find the characters appealing or find any way of understanding their motives.
I’m not even sure if I understand why the novel is billed as a DS Carrie Flynn thriller as, in many ways, she is a peripheral figure, acting more as a catalyst to further exploration of Emma and Jade than the main protagonist. I think I learned more about her backstory from the blurb than from the novel where it is made obvious that it will be explored in future outings.
The Night Caller is not the kind of novel that I like to read but it is well done and I think that many readers will enjoy it.
August 13, 2019
This is the first in what I hope will be a new series.
It’s a bit of a different crime thriller as the main focus is on the family and friends of the missing person, and there’s not much about the Detectives investigating the case.
Carrie and Paul seem to be secondary to the storyline, even though they’re investigating the missing person case.
I was hooked by the story though and whilst I’d worked out part of it, it didn’t spoil it for me.
Emma is distraught when her son goes missing and her close friendship with her neighbour, Jade is soon put under strain.
I’m intrigued to learn more about Carrie’s story so hope there will be more books in this series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
It’s a bit of a different crime thriller as the main focus is on the family and friends of the missing person, and there’s not much about the Detectives investigating the case.
Carrie and Paul seem to be secondary to the storyline, even though they’re investigating the missing person case.
I was hooked by the story though and whilst I’d worked out part of it, it didn’t spoil it for me.
Emma is distraught when her son goes missing and her close friendship with her neighbour, Jade is soon put under strain.
I’m intrigued to learn more about Carrie’s story so hope there will be more books in this series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 9, 2019
This is a strange but enjoyable book. If someone were to ask me what genre it fits into I'd probably say it's one part police procedural and two parts psychological thriller. I thought the characters were very realistic and I swung between being horrified by the killer and feeling sorry for him. I thought the ending was particularly good, exactly how I thought it should end. Personally I would have liked to see a lot more of the police especially as it is clear that Carrie has a tragic history which is barely alluded to here. Hopefully the author intends to give us more of this story in future books. I look forward to the next one.
Review will be.posted on Goodreads, Amazon and Twitter.
Review will be.posted on Goodreads, Amazon and Twitter.
August 21, 2019
The first in a new series, THE NIGHT CALLER is a debut thriller by J.M. Hewitt featuring DS Carrie Flynn. The synopsis for the book is a little misleading, however, as it refers to the disappearance of Carrie's own sister some twenty years prior which, while giving the impression that it was to feature heavily, was merely only highlighted as a part of Carrie's backstory. It did, though, offer some promise of a future revisit to the her sister's case in the closing pages.
I was quite excited to begin this new series as I do love to get to know the main players as they develop over the course of a few books. But if I was expecting it to be like any other police procedural I would be disappointed. And I was, on that point. And even after finishing it yesterday, I'm still unsure how I feel about it. It was part police procedural, part thriller, but part something else. And yet I am still undecided.
A serial killer is roaming the canals in Manchester with twelve victims - all male - in the past 6 years. Dubbed 'The Pusher' for his particular MO (modus operandi) of pushing his victims into the freezing black waters of the canal, DS Carrie Flynn has been tasked with the job of catching him. Throughout the investigation, Carrie is haunted by the image of a man she caught a glimpse of at one of the scenes the previous year and believes that he is the man they are after. The memory of a distinctive tattoo he bore and his self-assured smile torments her knowing that he had been so close.
Emma Robinson is at home pondering what time her son Jordan will be home when she catches sight of a scene of a story unfolding on the late night news. Behind the reporter is an item, a scarf, left hanging on a rail by the canal...distinctive to those know it for its bright lime green thread stitched down its centre. Jordan's scarf. Four year old Nia from next door had stitched it as a surprise for Jordan, unaware she was ruining an expensive Armani item. Emma's blood ran cold. Just hours before she had warned Jordan to be careful as The Pusher was still out there, his hunting ground - the canals. But Jordan had brushed her off stating he only went for gay men...and he certainly wasn't that! Now it looks as if Jordan was The Pusher's latest victim, as Emma grabbed her coat and raced down to the canal to see for herself.
Jade is Emma's neighbour and probably her best friend. She had first arrived as a 15 year old pregnant schoolgirl, moving in with her Nan who lived in the terrace next door to Emma. As Emma herself had been 16 when falling pregnant with Jordan, she and Jade soon became friends with a mutual bond and understanding of their shared predicaments...despite their 10 year age gap. Then tragedy struck when Jade fell from the roof and lost the baby. Her parents, who had banished her for the duration of her 'confinement', now saw that the problem had resolved itself and Jade was to return home. But Jade didn't want to go back home. She enjoyed living with Nan and her time with Emma and Jordan. So when Nan had a fall and broke her leg, it was agreed that Jade would stay on and help out. Then when Nan died suddenly, Jade - now 22 - was distraught with grief but found solace in the unlikely of places. But that was short-lived when she discovered she was, once again, pregnant. With the threat of having to leave her home that had been in her Nan's name, the council then agreed to transfer the tenancy over to Jade with the prospect of her becoming a single mum. And then Nia was born.
From her living room window, Jade watches Emma come and go next door, and with Jordan missing, believed to have been The Pusher's lates victim, she is unsure with what to say to her friend. Emma, who is in denial that her son could be dead, spends most of her time trawling the areas surrounding the canals in the hope that she can find Jordan.
Then throw in Jordan's father Martin, who has never met him, with questions as to why was he never told about him; a young man called Lee who for all intents and purposes appears to be the only person to know anything about Jordan; and a nosy curtain-twitching neighbour who sees more than she lets on, and who has secrets of her own. Each character has their own important part to play in this very different thriller.
We do also get a glimpse from The Pusher's POV as well throughout with the odd chapter. He has his own story to tell...and where he fits into it all.
While the narrative is written in the third person throughout, it is The Pusher's that is the only one in the first - giving it that more personal perspective and a connection to him. Everyone has their own perspectives in this story but it's The Pusher's we see inside of.
One of the problems I think I had with this book was with Carrie. She is meant to be the main character but instead she was more of a peripheral one. It was too difficult to connect with her because we don't get a whole lot of insight into her - just a sprinkling here and there. The synopsis dangled the promise of the disappearance of Carrie's sister but that had nothing to do with anything here. We didn't even see a lot of detective work either. And although Carrie Flynn is meant to be the prime protagonist, the story features primarily around Emma and Jade - with them being the main characters in this story. It did give it a different angle and edge to it, but I hope in future books featuring Carrie she is given the main lead. After all, it IS meant to be her show.
But probably my biggest issue was the glacial speed in which everything seemed to move. For a thriller, it was incredibly slow and somewhat convoluted in parts. I enjoyed some of it but not all of it. There was far too much going on at times. And I feel terrible when I don't enjoy a book as much as I had hoped I would because I know that the author has put so much work into writing it and reviewing it will be difficult. I didn't NOT enjoy it, but I didn't love it either. As this is the first in the series, I am hoping we get to see more of Carrie in the future and the characters featured in her cases are the peripheral characters. It was an interesting perspective to take but it made it difficult to connect with Carrie because we just didn't see enough of her to really know her.
Psychological in nature, THE NIGHT CALLER is filled with twists that, although I guessed at about 10% into the story, made for an incredibly interesting read once it got going. Two major reveals I guessed at such an early stage with a third about halfway through. Despite my own hunches as to what the revelations would be being correct, this never ruins it or dissuades my enjoyment of the story.
I must say that Jeanette did a wonderful job in her vivid descriptions of the canals. I found myself looking deep into the black waters and seeing nothing but blackness. There was a real eeriness about those canals and she brought that to life in vivid array. Her ability to make that aspect come to life with just a few paragraphs brings more to the story than if pages and pages were written to describe the one scene. I am not a fan of overt description, which can put me to sleep if there is too much of it...like a documentary. I like dialogue, interaction, backstory rather than a whole chapter devoted to the description of an empty warehouse.
Although I saw it coming long before it happened, I enjoyed the ending, as heartbreaking as it was, but it was fitting. This would have to be the first book in which the reader feels empathy for the killer. There is also a lesson to be learnt in the dysfunctionality of some families in the mistakes Emma made bringing up her son as well as Carrie's obvious strained relationship with her own mother.
If I was asked about its genre I would have to say that THE NIGHT CALLER is one part police procedural and two parts thriller. It's certainly different. A chilling story that will bring out a range of emotions as you watch everything unfold.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, I think so. While I found it very slow in parts, the story does have promise...as does the series with this being its introduction. I recommend you go into it with an open mind. You may enjoy it more than I did...and I really wish I did enjoy it more than I did. There were parts I really enjoyed while others I just felt moved too slowly. Even now, I am still unsure how I feel about this book in its entirety. But don't take my word for it. Grab yourself a copy and check it out! You may be surprised!
I would like to thank #JMHewitt, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheNightCaller in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I was quite excited to begin this new series as I do love to get to know the main players as they develop over the course of a few books. But if I was expecting it to be like any other police procedural I would be disappointed. And I was, on that point. And even after finishing it yesterday, I'm still unsure how I feel about it. It was part police procedural, part thriller, but part something else. And yet I am still undecided.
A serial killer is roaming the canals in Manchester with twelve victims - all male - in the past 6 years. Dubbed 'The Pusher' for his particular MO (modus operandi) of pushing his victims into the freezing black waters of the canal, DS Carrie Flynn has been tasked with the job of catching him. Throughout the investigation, Carrie is haunted by the image of a man she caught a glimpse of at one of the scenes the previous year and believes that he is the man they are after. The memory of a distinctive tattoo he bore and his self-assured smile torments her knowing that he had been so close.
Emma Robinson is at home pondering what time her son Jordan will be home when she catches sight of a scene of a story unfolding on the late night news. Behind the reporter is an item, a scarf, left hanging on a rail by the canal...distinctive to those know it for its bright lime green thread stitched down its centre. Jordan's scarf. Four year old Nia from next door had stitched it as a surprise for Jordan, unaware she was ruining an expensive Armani item. Emma's blood ran cold. Just hours before she had warned Jordan to be careful as The Pusher was still out there, his hunting ground - the canals. But Jordan had brushed her off stating he only went for gay men...and he certainly wasn't that! Now it looks as if Jordan was The Pusher's latest victim, as Emma grabbed her coat and raced down to the canal to see for herself.
Jade is Emma's neighbour and probably her best friend. She had first arrived as a 15 year old pregnant schoolgirl, moving in with her Nan who lived in the terrace next door to Emma. As Emma herself had been 16 when falling pregnant with Jordan, she and Jade soon became friends with a mutual bond and understanding of their shared predicaments...despite their 10 year age gap. Then tragedy struck when Jade fell from the roof and lost the baby. Her parents, who had banished her for the duration of her 'confinement', now saw that the problem had resolved itself and Jade was to return home. But Jade didn't want to go back home. She enjoyed living with Nan and her time with Emma and Jordan. So when Nan had a fall and broke her leg, it was agreed that Jade would stay on and help out. Then when Nan died suddenly, Jade - now 22 - was distraught with grief but found solace in the unlikely of places. But that was short-lived when she discovered she was, once again, pregnant. With the threat of having to leave her home that had been in her Nan's name, the council then agreed to transfer the tenancy over to Jade with the prospect of her becoming a single mum. And then Nia was born.
From her living room window, Jade watches Emma come and go next door, and with Jordan missing, believed to have been The Pusher's lates victim, she is unsure with what to say to her friend. Emma, who is in denial that her son could be dead, spends most of her time trawling the areas surrounding the canals in the hope that she can find Jordan.
Then throw in Jordan's father Martin, who has never met him, with questions as to why was he never told about him; a young man called Lee who for all intents and purposes appears to be the only person to know anything about Jordan; and a nosy curtain-twitching neighbour who sees more than she lets on, and who has secrets of her own. Each character has their own important part to play in this very different thriller.
We do also get a glimpse from The Pusher's POV as well throughout with the odd chapter. He has his own story to tell...and where he fits into it all.
While the narrative is written in the third person throughout, it is The Pusher's that is the only one in the first - giving it that more personal perspective and a connection to him. Everyone has their own perspectives in this story but it's The Pusher's we see inside of.
One of the problems I think I had with this book was with Carrie. She is meant to be the main character but instead she was more of a peripheral one. It was too difficult to connect with her because we don't get a whole lot of insight into her - just a sprinkling here and there. The synopsis dangled the promise of the disappearance of Carrie's sister but that had nothing to do with anything here. We didn't even see a lot of detective work either. And although Carrie Flynn is meant to be the prime protagonist, the story features primarily around Emma and Jade - with them being the main characters in this story. It did give it a different angle and edge to it, but I hope in future books featuring Carrie she is given the main lead. After all, it IS meant to be her show.
But probably my biggest issue was the glacial speed in which everything seemed to move. For a thriller, it was incredibly slow and somewhat convoluted in parts. I enjoyed some of it but not all of it. There was far too much going on at times. And I feel terrible when I don't enjoy a book as much as I had hoped I would because I know that the author has put so much work into writing it and reviewing it will be difficult. I didn't NOT enjoy it, but I didn't love it either. As this is the first in the series, I am hoping we get to see more of Carrie in the future and the characters featured in her cases are the peripheral characters. It was an interesting perspective to take but it made it difficult to connect with Carrie because we just didn't see enough of her to really know her.
Psychological in nature, THE NIGHT CALLER is filled with twists that, although I guessed at about 10% into the story, made for an incredibly interesting read once it got going. Two major reveals I guessed at such an early stage with a third about halfway through. Despite my own hunches as to what the revelations would be being correct, this never ruins it or dissuades my enjoyment of the story.
I must say that Jeanette did a wonderful job in her vivid descriptions of the canals. I found myself looking deep into the black waters and seeing nothing but blackness. There was a real eeriness about those canals and she brought that to life in vivid array. Her ability to make that aspect come to life with just a few paragraphs brings more to the story than if pages and pages were written to describe the one scene. I am not a fan of overt description, which can put me to sleep if there is too much of it...like a documentary. I like dialogue, interaction, backstory rather than a whole chapter devoted to the description of an empty warehouse.
Although I saw it coming long before it happened, I enjoyed the ending, as heartbreaking as it was, but it was fitting. This would have to be the first book in which the reader feels empathy for the killer. There is also a lesson to be learnt in the dysfunctionality of some families in the mistakes Emma made bringing up her son as well as Carrie's obvious strained relationship with her own mother.
If I was asked about its genre I would have to say that THE NIGHT CALLER is one part police procedural and two parts thriller. It's certainly different. A chilling story that will bring out a range of emotions as you watch everything unfold.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, I think so. While I found it very slow in parts, the story does have promise...as does the series with this being its introduction. I recommend you go into it with an open mind. You may enjoy it more than I did...and I really wish I did enjoy it more than I did. There were parts I really enjoyed while others I just felt moved too slowly. Even now, I am still unsure how I feel about this book in its entirety. But don't take my word for it. Grab yourself a copy and check it out! You may be surprised!
I would like to thank #JMHewitt, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheNightCaller in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
August 15, 2019
The Night Caller is a tense, dark and menacing novel set against the backdrop of Manchester and its canals.
A serial killer, known as The Pusher is still at large but after many years of hunting him and several bodies later, the police seem no nearer to catching him.
Detective Sergeant Carrie Flynn is on the case and with her partner D.C. Paul Harper they are in a race against time to find the person responsible before another victim suffers the same fate.
Flows well, great storyline and a good mix of characters made this a super first in the Detective Carrie Flynn series and I certainly look forward to catching up with Carrie in the future - and hopefully finding out more about her and of the ghosts from the past that after 20 years still haunt her.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC for my honest review.
A serial killer, known as The Pusher is still at large but after many years of hunting him and several bodies later, the police seem no nearer to catching him.
Detective Sergeant Carrie Flynn is on the case and with her partner D.C. Paul Harper they are in a race against time to find the person responsible before another victim suffers the same fate.
Flows well, great storyline and a good mix of characters made this a super first in the Detective Carrie Flynn series and I certainly look forward to catching up with Carrie in the future - and hopefully finding out more about her and of the ghosts from the past that after 20 years still haunt her.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC for my honest review.
August 19, 2019
Detective Carrie Flynn and her partner are investigating a murderer who is pushing young men into the canals of Manchester but his MO has changed and Carrie thinks there is a copycat. When a young man, jordan, goes missing his mother, Emma and her neighbour, Jade, are pulled into the investigation and secrets are going to come out.
I devoured this book and it was such a thrilling read. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review. Can’t wait for book 2:
I devoured this book and it was such a thrilling read. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review. Can’t wait for book 2:
July 15, 2019
Canals can be beautiful places, a reminder of commerce and transport from another age; many resurrected as tourist attractions with museums, pubs, and restaurants nearby. Others though are cold, dark, and scary; not somewhere to visit voluntarily. It is a combination of the two that star in this atmospheric novel about a serial killer who uses the canals as his weapon of choice.
When Emma's son, Jordan, disappears after a splash is heard she knows he has become the next victim of a man known locally as The Pusher. With her world falling apart she focuses on finding out what happened to her only child, neglecting every other aspect of her life in the process.
Detective Carrie Flynn can sympathise with Emma but knows there are important secrets being kept by everyone involved as she tries to solve the case that haunts her almost as much as happenings from her own past.
As a first novel this was ok. I guessed pretty much all of it before the reveal but although this was a disappointment the crimes themselves and the different viewpoints made for an easy read with some good characterisation and locational descriptions.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries at the beginning of their development.
When Emma's son, Jordan, disappears after a splash is heard she knows he has become the next victim of a man known locally as The Pusher. With her world falling apart she focuses on finding out what happened to her only child, neglecting every other aspect of her life in the process.
Detective Carrie Flynn can sympathise with Emma but knows there are important secrets being kept by everyone involved as she tries to solve the case that haunts her almost as much as happenings from her own past.
As a first novel this was ok. I guessed pretty much all of it before the reveal but although this was a disappointment the crimes themselves and the different viewpoints made for an easy read with some good characterisation and locational descriptions.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries at the beginning of their development.
July 22, 2019
A serial killer, known as The Pusher, pushes seemingly bad or gay men into the canal. DS Carrie Flynn and partner Paul are out to catch him.
Jordan, son of Emma goes missing, has he been pushed by The Pusher? A normal teenager, who seems to have his secrets, but it seems like all the characters in this book have secrets. A story full of lies and secrets and strong emotions.
Took me a little to get into this story and I was disappointed that It did not showcase Carrie Flynn as much as O thought it would, hoping the next book gets into her backstory more. All in all it was an okay book. A big thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to receive and review this book.
Jordan, son of Emma goes missing, has he been pushed by The Pusher? A normal teenager, who seems to have his secrets, but it seems like all the characters in this book have secrets. A story full of lies and secrets and strong emotions.
Took me a little to get into this story and I was disappointed that It did not showcase Carrie Flynn as much as O thought it would, hoping the next book gets into her backstory more. All in all it was an okay book. A big thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to receive and review this book.
July 17, 2019
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the chance to read this first book in the series featuring Carrie Flynn. The story is set in Manchester namely around the canals and the hunt is on for a serial killer known as The Pusher. I was totally gripped by this story and liked the way it went into the past to explain and inform you as to what had happened and why. I thought it was totally descriptive and drew you into the scenes, at times feeling as if you were actually there.
A brilliant start to a series and I cannot wait for the second one.
A brilliant start to a series and I cannot wait for the second one.
August 21, 2019
In the town of Manchester, a serial killer who is referred to as The Pusher remains at large. The Pusher is so affectionately named this since this person pushes its victims to their death into the canal. Over the last six years, The Pusher has claimed at least a dozen victims without leaving a trace of evidence to confirm his or her identity.
Detective Carrie Flynn has been assigned to the case, and she refuses to give up. One thing becomes evident is that the killer’s motives have changed. Previously the killer targeted victims who were homosexual whereas now it seems the killer is going after those that are deemed the “bad boys” of society.
I really enjoyed watching the secrets unfold between Emma, the grieving mother who lost her son to The Pusher, and Jade, her best friend that lives next door. There were so many twists and turns that keep me on my toes.
For a debut thriller, I definitely think the author does a fantastic job of telling this unputdownable page turner. However, I’m dying to know the answers to all of the unanswered questions about DS Flynn (such as the disappearance of her sister Hattie). Since the series is supposed to focus on her, I would have loved for her to be the focal point of the story and investigation, whereas she does take a back seat to the story in favor of Emma and Jade. Regardless, I’m still excited to see what’s next in store for DS Flynn’s story.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
Detective Carrie Flynn has been assigned to the case, and she refuses to give up. One thing becomes evident is that the killer’s motives have changed. Previously the killer targeted victims who were homosexual whereas now it seems the killer is going after those that are deemed the “bad boys” of society.
I really enjoyed watching the secrets unfold between Emma, the grieving mother who lost her son to The Pusher, and Jade, her best friend that lives next door. There were so many twists and turns that keep me on my toes.
For a debut thriller, I definitely think the author does a fantastic job of telling this unputdownable page turner. However, I’m dying to know the answers to all of the unanswered questions about DS Flynn (such as the disappearance of her sister Hattie). Since the series is supposed to focus on her, I would have loved for her to be the focal point of the story and investigation, whereas she does take a back seat to the story in favor of Emma and Jade. Regardless, I’m still excited to see what’s next in store for DS Flynn’s story.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
July 18, 2019
Good psychological thriller.
There is a serial killer on the loose, targeting gay men in the area. The police are trying to cover up this fact, not wanting people to panic. Detective Carrie Flynn, however, does not agree. She studies this case and examines every piece of evidence, confident the killer can be stopped. She notices the pattern the killer follows has suddenly changed, the target moving away from gay men to criminals.
Meanwhile, a young man, Jordan, leaves home to go to the bars with his friends, and never returns. Fearing he has been a victim of the killer, the hunt for him begins immediately. Throughout the search, new facts and character traits of the missing Jordan come to light, and what his family once thought they knew about him, suddenly doesn't seem true. It makes you ask yourself, do we ever truly know another person?
Will the detective be able to stop the killer and find Jordan? Will Jordan's family ever be able to truly understand what kind of boy he was?
This book was good. Seem to drag from time to time, a lot of repetition. But, overall a thriller worth reading. I do look forward to the next book in the series.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
There is a serial killer on the loose, targeting gay men in the area. The police are trying to cover up this fact, not wanting people to panic. Detective Carrie Flynn, however, does not agree. She studies this case and examines every piece of evidence, confident the killer can be stopped. She notices the pattern the killer follows has suddenly changed, the target moving away from gay men to criminals.
Meanwhile, a young man, Jordan, leaves home to go to the bars with his friends, and never returns. Fearing he has been a victim of the killer, the hunt for him begins immediately. Throughout the search, new facts and character traits of the missing Jordan come to light, and what his family once thought they knew about him, suddenly doesn't seem true. It makes you ask yourself, do we ever truly know another person?
Will the detective be able to stop the killer and find Jordan? Will Jordan's family ever be able to truly understand what kind of boy he was?
This book was good. Seem to drag from time to time, a lot of repetition. But, overall a thriller worth reading. I do look forward to the next book in the series.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 22, 2019
The Night Caller by J.M. Hewitt is the first of a series focused on Detective Carrie Flynn, and is a promising start. Detective Flynn has an intriguing backstory that I am anxious to delve into much more in the future.
There is a serial killer at large in Manchester, dubbed 'The Pusher' as his or her modus operandi is shoving victims into a canal. The narrative focuses largely on one potential victim, Jordan, and his mother, Emma, as well as friend and neighbour, Jade. The case is rife with twists and turns, but I would have liked to have seen a bit more attention paid to our protagonist, Carrie Flynn. Nevertheless, with so many unanswered questions surrounding Detective Flynn and her missing sister, Hattie, the stage has been set for a long and engaging series. I always enjoy joining a series from the very start, and will look forward to seeing how this one progresses.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
There is a serial killer at large in Manchester, dubbed 'The Pusher' as his or her modus operandi is shoving victims into a canal. The narrative focuses largely on one potential victim, Jordan, and his mother, Emma, as well as friend and neighbour, Jade. The case is rife with twists and turns, but I would have liked to have seen a bit more attention paid to our protagonist, Carrie Flynn. Nevertheless, with so many unanswered questions surrounding Detective Flynn and her missing sister, Hattie, the stage has been set for a long and engaging series. I always enjoy joining a series from the very start, and will look forward to seeing how this one progresses.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
July 11, 2019
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Ok this was a strange but enjoyable read.
I find myself feeling sorry for the killer and then horrified by him in the next and that saying something because I read a lot of mystery thrillers.
I like the character of Carrie but struggle to connect with her at times I hope in the next book we get more about her cause it's seem she has a tragic history. I like how the story unfold and the ending happen the way I thought it would. Good first introduction of this series.
Ok this was a strange but enjoyable read.
I find myself feeling sorry for the killer and then horrified by him in the next and that saying something because I read a lot of mystery thrillers.
I like the character of Carrie but struggle to connect with her at times I hope in the next book we get more about her cause it's seem she has a tragic history. I like how the story unfold and the ending happen the way I thought it would. Good first introduction of this series.
July 24, 2019
Carrie Flynn became a detective after her own sister was kidnapped, and never found, and twenty years later is still helping other families deal with the grief and loss of a loved one. So, now she is tracking a nasty serial killer and the latest victims family is different, not helping Carrie with info she needs - what are they hiding? Told from different perspectives this is more of a psychological character study than a police procedural. Some of the twists are forseen but the big one at the end was unexpected!
August 19, 2019
I love discovering new authors and J. M. Hewitt is certainly an author, whose work I have never read before. That said, I have heard lots of good things about her work from respected crime fiction bloggers, so I instinctively knew that I was going to really enjoy 'The Night Caller'. I was to be proved right. I really enjoyed reading 'The Night Caller' but more about that in a bit.
I couldn't help but take to the character of Detective Carrie Flynn from the first time I met her. She is a dedicated police officer with a tragic past behind her. Her sister went missing and hasn't been heard or seen since her abduction some twenty years prior to the main body of the story. Carrie was older than her sister and she has never forgiven herself for what she perceives as her failure to maintain the safety of her kid sister. Flynn never fails to keep reminding herself of her failure. I can't even begin to imagine how the disappearance of your kid sister might haunt you for a long, long time even though there is probably nothing that you could have done to prevent the abduction. To atone for her perceived failure, Flynn joins the police force to ensure that nobody grows up alone and in the hope of preventing any other families from going through the heartache that Flynn and her family went through. Flynn also hopes that somewhere along the line she will find the answer as to what happened to her sister following her abduction. Flynn is determined, tenacious, hard working, stubborn, compassionate, sensitive and well you get the picture.
It took me a little while to get into 'The Night Caller' but I think that has more to do with getting used to a new author's writing style than it does with the quality of the story. Once I got into the story, I became addicted to reading this book. I couldn't binge read the book over the course of a day but I still only took a couple of days to read it, which is still pretty good going for me. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case. The story had a few little sub plots which demanded my complete concentration. I seemed to race through the latter half of the book as my desperation to find out how the story concluded, steadily grew and grew. At one point I was turning the pages so quickly that it was almost as if the pages are turning themselves.
'The Night Caller' is well written. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and she draws you into the story. By introducing some great characters with some complex issues, the author ensures that she keeps your attention all the way through the book.
Reading 'The Night Caller' was much like being on a scary and an at times unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. Just when you thought that you had fathomed out who was who and who had done what, then the author would send you another curveball to send you off in another direction entirely.
In short, 'The Night Caller' is a great read and I would recommend it to other readers. I can't wait to read what J. M. Hewitt comes up with next. Here's hoping that we don't have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
I couldn't help but take to the character of Detective Carrie Flynn from the first time I met her. She is a dedicated police officer with a tragic past behind her. Her sister went missing and hasn't been heard or seen since her abduction some twenty years prior to the main body of the story. Carrie was older than her sister and she has never forgiven herself for what she perceives as her failure to maintain the safety of her kid sister. Flynn never fails to keep reminding herself of her failure. I can't even begin to imagine how the disappearance of your kid sister might haunt you for a long, long time even though there is probably nothing that you could have done to prevent the abduction. To atone for her perceived failure, Flynn joins the police force to ensure that nobody grows up alone and in the hope of preventing any other families from going through the heartache that Flynn and her family went through. Flynn also hopes that somewhere along the line she will find the answer as to what happened to her sister following her abduction. Flynn is determined, tenacious, hard working, stubborn, compassionate, sensitive and well you get the picture.
It took me a little while to get into 'The Night Caller' but I think that has more to do with getting used to a new author's writing style than it does with the quality of the story. Once I got into the story, I became addicted to reading this book. I couldn't binge read the book over the course of a day but I still only took a couple of days to read it, which is still pretty good going for me. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case. The story had a few little sub plots which demanded my complete concentration. I seemed to race through the latter half of the book as my desperation to find out how the story concluded, steadily grew and grew. At one point I was turning the pages so quickly that it was almost as if the pages are turning themselves.
'The Night Caller' is well written. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and she draws you into the story. By introducing some great characters with some complex issues, the author ensures that she keeps your attention all the way through the book.
Reading 'The Night Caller' was much like being on a scary and an at times unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. Just when you thought that you had fathomed out who was who and who had done what, then the author would send you another curveball to send you off in another direction entirely.
In short, 'The Night Caller' is a great read and I would recommend it to other readers. I can't wait to read what J. M. Hewitt comes up with next. Here's hoping that we don't have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
August 19, 2019
The Night Caller features DS Carrie Flynn and her DC, Paul Harper who are investigating the murders of numerous men who are seemingly pushed into the canals that run through Manchester by a mystery killer who has been operating for a number of years. Simply the police have very little concrete to go on, just hunches based on the lifestyles of the victims and an apparent change in MO for the murderer.
Whilst the description focuses on Carrie, for me the book was actually about the victims family and friends, showing the impact that a murder investigation has on those closest to the victim and the range of emotions that they go through. Jordan Robinson goes missing on a night out and his mother’s life changes instantly, Emma starts walking the canals hoping to find a trace of Jordan, to find out some answers as to what happened to him. Jade, Emma and Jordan’s neighbour who is actually more like family is extremely concerned for her friend especially when a blast from the past arrives on the scene.
The Night Caller isn’t that simple (of course!) as it is clear from the outset that Jordan led a very private life with people knowing very little about him, also a lot of people are hiding secrets of their own and as these start to be revealed, the book really gathers pace as you are not sure who to suspect and what to believe.
The author creates a really creepy Manchester where you feel as though you would be constantly looking over your shoulder whilst being down near the canals….not sure how popular the bars would be near the water’s edge!
I did enjoy The Night Caller and the different perspective it gave to a police investigation but at the same time, I do look forward to getting to know Carrie better, to see her step into the main character role and find out her back story that is alluded to within this book description.
A solid start to a new series and a new-to-me author.
Whilst the description focuses on Carrie, for me the book was actually about the victims family and friends, showing the impact that a murder investigation has on those closest to the victim and the range of emotions that they go through. Jordan Robinson goes missing on a night out and his mother’s life changes instantly, Emma starts walking the canals hoping to find a trace of Jordan, to find out some answers as to what happened to him. Jade, Emma and Jordan’s neighbour who is actually more like family is extremely concerned for her friend especially when a blast from the past arrives on the scene.
The Night Caller isn’t that simple (of course!) as it is clear from the outset that Jordan led a very private life with people knowing very little about him, also a lot of people are hiding secrets of their own and as these start to be revealed, the book really gathers pace as you are not sure who to suspect and what to believe.
The author creates a really creepy Manchester where you feel as though you would be constantly looking over your shoulder whilst being down near the canals….not sure how popular the bars would be near the water’s edge!
I did enjoy The Night Caller and the different perspective it gave to a police investigation but at the same time, I do look forward to getting to know Carrie better, to see her step into the main character role and find out her back story that is alluded to within this book description.
A solid start to a new series and a new-to-me author.
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